Free agent Ryan Mundy has been Bears’ best safety so far

Wednesday

Jul 30, 2014 at 4:30 PMJul 30, 2014 at 4:30 PM

By Jay TaftRockford Register Star

BOURBONNAIS — What to do with the safety positions?

That has been a question the Chicago Bears coaching staff has wrestled with for quite some time now. And because of that, it represents probably the two most wide-open position battles at training camp.

However, one guy has stepped up quickly to try and answer at least half of that question.

“We’ve said all along that the safety position is wide open,” Bears head coach Marc Trestman said after Wednesday’s practice, the team’s fifth workout. “Ryan Mundy sure has looked good, though.”

He’s the one player that has shined throughout, and he could be making the coaches’ jobs a little easier. The Bears signed Mundy on the opening day of free agency after his run with the Giants and Steelers ended, and he’s played with the first-team defense at strong safety every day at camp so far.

Mundy was the Giants’ leading tackler at midseason last year when he went down with a hip injury. Now, he knows he has a chance to shore up one of the problem areas for the Bears for a long time.

“I know they’ve tried a lot of people at the position, but I’m excited about the opportunity,” Mundy said. “I think that’s why I’m here: To come out here and help solidify the position and get our defense back to where it needs to be. That’s a great opportunity for me.”

Starting free safety Chris Conte had a rough 2013 that ended with his blown coverage on a final-minute, fourth-down, 48-yard touchdown pass in the season-ending 33-28 loss to the Packers. He then underwent offseason shoulder surgery, while his safety-mate from last year Major Wright was allowed to leave via free agency.

The Bears traded up to the fourth round to take Brock Vereen in the draft, and quickly went to work during the rest of the offseason building depth at the position. They brought in Mundy as well as veteran free agents Adrian Wilson, M.D. Jennings and Danny McCray.

Vereen was the ninth safety the team has drafted in the last decade, and five of them have gone on to start at some point during their rookie seasons with the Bears. The opportunity is there again.

He played free safety with the starters every day this summer until Wednesday, when McCray was moved up, proving that that position is just as unsettled as it was when it all started.

But Mundy may be earning respect on the other side.

“I bring a toughness to the game, sure, that’s my No. 1 attribute: My physicality,” Mundy said. “But I think I’ve been doing a good job of getting people lined up at the safety position, too, and I can be a great communicator. I picked up the defense fast, and I’m just trying to highlight those traits every day, and work on all the aspects of my game.”